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and was not written by Leasing News nor information verified, but from the source noted. When an article is signed by the writer, it is considered a “by line.” It reflects the opinion and research of the writer.

Please send a colleague and ask them to subscribe. We are free.Email kitmenkin@leasingnews.org and in subject line: subscribe

"The stock of Chesswood Group Ltd (TSE:CHW) hit a new 52-week high and has $24.89 target or 112.00% above today’s $11.74 share price. The 9 months bullish chart indicates low risk for the $195.68 million company. The 1-year high was reported on Sep, 19 by Barchart.com. If the $24.89 price target is reached, the company will be worth $219.16 million more.

“The 52-week high event is an important milestone for every stock because it shows very positive momentum and is time when buyers come in. During such notable technical setup, fundamental investors usually stay away and are careful shorting or selling the stock. The stock increased 0.43% or $0.05 on September 19, hitting $11.74. About 14,329 shares traded hands. Chesswood Group Ltd (TSE:CHW) has risen 21.77% since February 11, 2016 and is up trending. It has outperformed by 7.06% the S&P500.

"Chesswood Group Limited is engaged in financial services businesses. The company has a market cap of $195.68 million. The Firm operates through two divisions: Equipment Financing-U.S. and Equipment Financing-Canada. It has a 20.94 P/E ratio. The Equipment Financing-U.S. segment is involved in small-ticket equipment leasing and lending to small businesses."www.kentuckypostnews.com

“I am a loan broker for working capital and financing equipment. Is it important for me to know how to read financial statements?”

A very good question for today. I have written many times that it is important for a leasing consultant to be able to read financial statements. I believe it is also true for all types of loans and leases. As a sales professional, there is at least one sure-fire way to increase your value to your company and to any organization - learn to read and understand financial statements.

Jessica Byrnes wrote to CFO magazine and said "There is not a single person working is a U.S. public company…who should not be able to read and understand a financial statement. While this may be true, another reader, Dave Kosek, wrote that Ms. Byrnes was "…out of touch with reality." He continued, "I would bet that more than half of the people in management of our U.S. public companies cannot read or understand a financial statement, not to mention the people who actually do the work!"

An outsider might think that surely everyone in the equipment finance business would know all about financial statements, but that doesn't seem to be true. I am told, in fact, that a great many salespeople in the finance industry don't know much, if anything, about financial statements.

I think most managers would agree that many equipment finance salespeople don't need to become experts in reading financial statements. Unless a salesperson is coincidentally involved in structuring transactions that requires expertise in financial analysis, it may not be necessary to become an expert in analyzing financials, but understanding the basics of financial statements can't hurt professionally, and can help salespeople personally.

In keeping with my perspective that people change behaviors only when they perceive something beneficial in it for them to do so, here is my short list of the benefits to leasing salespeople of learning to read and understand financial statements:

- The ability to read and understand financial statements will make you appear smarter.

- You will build credibility in your organization with your managers, credit analysts and senior managers.

- You will build credibility with your customers as you demonstrate through analysis that you truly understand their business.

- You will save yourself gobs of time as you learn to pass on deals that you know will waste the time of credit analysts and will lead to frustration for everyone.

- You will gain confidence and independence when making personal investment decisions.

From a selfish perspective, assisting credit analysts with an educated point of view on a deal, or saving them time by discarding deals that don't make the grade from a financial analysis perspective, will naturally position you in the eyes of the credit analysts as a professional who cares about their time and workload. Don't be surprised when most analysts are willing to listen to you when you want to present a deal that doesn't quite fit the credit box, but may deserve consideration based on other criteria.

Finally, achieving some level of expertise in understanding financial statements can actually be fun. When you understand that all businesses, sooner or later, suffer from commoditization and become white elephants, that "profit" isn't the end-game of business, but is instead the ultimate cost of staying in business, and that without profits, and real free cash flow, a company is unable to continue the investments it must make to stay competitive, you begin to look at a company's financials with a different perspective. You may even come up with an idea no one else has thought of for keeping a business profitable or helping a business out of trouble.

If you are truly looking for a way to become a more valuable resource to your company, and to your customers, learn about financial statements. There are more resources than ever to help you learn, and you will profit professionally and personally!

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Steve Chriest is the CEO of Open Advance and author of “Selling to the E-Suite, The Proven System for Reaching and Selling Senior Executives and Business Acumen 101.” He recently re-named his company from Selling-Up. He produces video and radio blogs, as well as continuing as a columnist for Leasing News since 2005.

Bank of the Ozarks was recognized as the top performing bank
in the United States, based on financial performance,
five years in a row, 2011-2015.
• Rated as “well capitalized” –
the highest available regulatory rating
• Publicly traded company on the
NASDAQ Global Select Market, symbol OZRK
• Headquartered in Little Rock, Arkansas
• Chartered in March 1903, a 111-year heritage

256 Offices, $18.5 billion in assets, second quarter
2016 net income of over $54 million

We are an equal opportunity employer and give consideration for employment to qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, and local law. Member FDIC.

Many finance companies have a preference for leasing or financing one or the other: vehicles or equipment. Madison Capital was a merger, in 1997, of two companies where one was strictly an equipment leasing company and the other was 95% vehicle leasing. The marriage turned out to be a very long honeymoon. We both viewed it as two customer data bases to to which to cross sell and two products to cross sell.

Let’s look at why vehicles can be a perfect complement to an equipment finance/lease company. In the “old days”, it was vehicle leasing only. Now, it’s leasing or financing of vehicles. With all the competition from working capital loans, credit cards, friends and family, and any place else to get money, an added product to sell may be a complement to equipment financing /leasing. Remember, banks are probably around mid-20% of business loans. What’s the moral of the story: the more products you have, know, and command, the more business you will have.

Really, is there really better collateral than a vehicle? With proper underwriting, vehicle losses are probably in the 20% range MAXIMUM on any loss. If financing used cars or trucks, your exposure is probably 10%.

However, to have a vehicle portfolio, one needs to know residual values of used vehicles. Whether open ended, finance, or TRAC leases, proper understanding of the used car market is essential. And yup, it can be learned quickly. After all, it is percentages of cost numbers and a general understanding of the used car market.

As for closed end or operating type leases, a deeper knowledge of used vehicle values is essential. A company needs to know its tolerance and expertise and see if vehicles fit one’s corporate strategy.

For the fun part, Madison has leased and financed most kinds of vehicles with both TRAC, fixed purchase options, and operating leases, fair market value options. I usually get asked the following questions:

What does Allan drive? The last time I had a new car was from my original partner who owned a Chevrolet dealerships and I drove a few Corvettes. That was 35 plus years ago when I was younger and more adventuresome. After the early car infatuation faded, I would drive something that came off lease, and that is for about 3-4 months per car. Yes, I have probably had 200 cars in 43 years.

As I got older, I went from the car of the week, to the car of the month, and to the car I have now which I bought used. What I drive now is the only car I have bought in the last 43 years. I have had a BMW 535 Diesel for 6 months. I did buy it used for 5K under book from a desperate seller. Knowing where to find desperate sellers comes with the business. Yup, 6 months is the record. Why? I love 575 miles to a tank of gas. However, I am getting a bit antsy and working on my next car. I have been scanning our list of cars coming off lease.

Historically, I have had every type of Mercedes, BMW, Cadillac, Jaguars and on and on. But, I did love my “Mazzerati Marek!”

We have mostly normal vehicles, but then again we have financed Ferrari’s, Lamborghini’s, all types of Porsche Carrera’s and more. The most expensive car we financed was $365K. The most expensive truck we financed was a specialized vehicle in the $400K range. We did our first electric car in the early 70’s. It was a proto type for a real estate mogul that wanted to drive around his local properties. He did that……when it started.

We are full circle now and do lots of electric vans. We have had cars used in bank robberies, drug dealing, and cars hijacked, and more. We did have an exec who had very expensive ‘vette. He went to a local race track, valet parked his car and got a ticket stub. When the races were over, he came back, hands the ticket to the attendant who promptly says, “That’s not our ticket.” That was a two day old lease. I have pages of stories like that.

The fleet business has changed over the years especially in the areas of telematics, GPS’s, maintenance, and insurance programs. One’s vehicle finance offerings can be leases or loans, trac or operating, and on. Vehicles are a good mix for a finance/leasing company.

What do I do for my wife you asked? Well, she always drove used cars as well. All my kids drove used cars. I also now have seven grandchildren. After 32 years of marriage, I did promise my wife a new car. It is a 4 series BMW. Her first “new” car.

To Combat Telemarketer Fraud, CFPB Reminds Banks and Other Covered Entities of Their Duties Under the Federal Rules

The Consumer Federal Protection Bureau (“CFPB”) has come down with new guidelines relative to Reg E preauthorized electronic debits of accounts. The term preauthorized electronic debits generally means the debiting of an account by a preauthorized written, electronic or verbal authorization, usually for the payment of recurring obligations. It is generated by the customer with an agreement with the customer’s bank. This differs from an ACH in that the ACH is initiated by the creditor’s bank.

The new guidelines were promulgated in response to complaint about telemarketers and payday lenders. For banks, not only do the new CFPB regulations apply to you, but to your customers, if you bank loan servicers or payday lenders.

The regulations still allow oral authorization for a recurring debit but the bank must provide disclosure to the customer, either in paper or electronic forms. That disclosure must disclose that the debit is recurring. The bank must comply with the E-Sign Act, which insures that the person providing authorization is genuine.

Whoa! Wells Fargo recently fired 5,300 sales people for setting up phony customer accounts, a shocking bit of news about a bank with one of the strongest credit cultures anywhere and a fantastic reputation. In fact, it's a core holding of investor Warren Buffett, for whom integrity is a key value.

5,300 employees! They must have had the worst hiring policies in the world with a record like that! Well, we have to hand it to Wells - once they discovered all the bad apples, they exhibited a zero-tolerance policy and fired them all!

But wait -did they really have incredibly lax hiring standards? Or was something else, perhaps, at play here? Certainly we don't believe for a second that Wells Fargo somehow hired 5,300 corrupt employees - and they all were in the same program! No - just to be clear - the above headline is deliberately provocative and tongue-in-cheek.

Our observations on this:

One key root causes of this debacle is an incentive program that is unrealistic, and which included strong pressure to meet goals. Unrealistic goals and pressure to make them is a surefire recipe to make otherwise ethical people cut corners that they might otherwise never cut.

Sales people – no matter the corporate culture - need a strong system of checks and balances. Incentivize them, sure. That’s great. But, as former President Reagan said, "trust but VERIFY.”

On a related note, banking as a whole is cyclical in terms of its propensity to careen from overly strict to overlay lax credit standards over the course of a business cycle, and this is evidence of that maxim.

We've seen it time and time again: following a downturn and increased bad debt losses, credit standards tightened up dramatically and lending is very careful. Gradually, as the business cycle improves and they see year-after-year of solid loan performance, they loosen up in order to gain market share and increase profits. Only the very best of banks - from a credit culture standpoint - are able to resist the siren call of loosening credit standards.

The lessons for credit execs?

1) Make sure your credit standards don't change with the season.

2) Make sure you have a solid system in place to keep your sales people honest, and

3) Keep a wary eye out for increasingly lax lending standards in your customer base. More leverage = greater risk and harm down the road.

We will question any information we think is suspicious. We will try to substantiate it by at least two reliable and unbiased people.

It is the editor's sole discretion as to what is printed. If an opinion or viewpoint is expressed, the writer or writers will be named in the by-line of the article, unless anonymity is requested.

Major corrections will be posted in the next earliest edition at the beginning of the news edition, highlighted in bold, and in the current “on line” news edition as early as possible. Typos such as wrong dates and name corrections are also corrected on line when noticed by the editor or reader(s), and if necessary, as determined by the editor, may be noted in the next edition as a “Clarification” or “Correction.”

All press releases will be marked preceding and after with #### Press Release #### to note the article did not originate at Leasing News.
All advertising traded for writing or for support will be so noted below the advertising.

Leasing News follows “The Associated Press Stylebook and Briefing on Media Law” by Perseus Publishing, Cambridge, Massachusetts, and “The Elements of Style” by William Strunk, Jr. and E.B. White, MacMillan Publishing, Co., Inc.
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At present time, Leasing News receives four or five complaints a week; some take a month or more to resolve, and the process is time consuming as the party must present all the documents, correspondence, and email to verify their claim. Some start and give up. Others go to small claims court and then the appeal, and a third appeal (yes, it happens).

Leasing News role was to determine if the complaint was "legitimate," meaning valid, and if not resolved, which might means "negotiated," "compromised," or "settled," it would appear in Leasing News as well as the Complaint Bulletin Board. It was never the role to say who is right or who is wrong, although some are quite obvious, such as an Evergreen Clauses on $1.00 purchase options, or the lessee has a copy he signed of an original purchase option, but does not have a signed copy from the leasing company.

There are also other claims where there is no agreement regarding being paid for time spent and wanting to keep the advance rental because they spent a lot of time, or other issues, such as an approval with an ACH, but the customer won't accept an ACH. Most are an approval at one price, but the lease at another price.

There are also issues over security deposits not being returned and therefore the purchase option not paid or the security deposits applied to the purchase option. A lease starts with one broker, goes to another broker, who discounts to a leasing company that fails, and their portfolio is sold to one company, who later discounts it to another leasing company.

And this has happened a lot in the last few years, such as the current one with the Bankruptcy Estate of IFC Credit whose lease was assigned to M&T Bank with a $1.00 out, but now the Bankruptcy Estate is billing extra lease payments. Another with Co-Activ, who actually returned over paid payments and a security deposit and the trustee on a $1.00 purchase option waited a year before going after non-notification.

And there are complaints from lessees about a "fair market value," and although the salesman said it was a $1.00, they claim, there is no documentation on it, the salesman is no longer around (in the times a salesman is found, none have remembered the lease) and more importantly, on the face of the contract it says "Fair Market Value" or there is no purchase option document.

Now before you say, the lessee should have read the contract, there are many leasing companies who have a side letter that states "fair market value" is $1.00, and they say this is done for "tax reasons" as the purchase option can't appear on the contract. Or sometimes the original proposal says "fair market value" as does the contract, but the lessee says he was told by the salesman it would not be very much at the end.

Recently there are complaints from brokers not being paid their commission. We have been getting two to three a month now. Often when Leasing News gets involved, they get paid or a compromise is made. I keep telling the broker to get it all in writing instead of any verbal “he said, she said” situation.

Christopher “Kit” Menkin, Editor

(Leasing News provides this ad “gratis” as a means
to help support the growth of Lease Police)

Element Shareholders Vote 99.5% in Favour
of Plan to Separate Into Two Market Leading Companies

TORONTO, ONTARIO-- - Element Financial Corporation (EFN.TO) ("Element") today announced that the previously announced separation transaction (the "Separation Transaction"), to be implemented by way of plan of arrangement (the "Arrangement") has received the requisite shareholder approval at Element's special meeting of shareholders held on September 20, 2016 (the "Meeting"). As a result of the Separation Transaction, shareholders will hold one new common share of Element Fleet Management Corp. and one common share of ECN Capital Corp. ("ECN Capital") for each common share of Element held. The results of the ballot were 313,993,690 common shares (99.52%) voted at the meeting in favour of the resolution.

Steven Hudson
Element Financial
Chief Executive Officer

"I am very pleased with the overwhelming show of support that this separation transaction has received from our shareholders," said Steven Hudson, Element's Chief Executive Officer. "This separation transaction is the culmination of the effort of all of our employees and the support of our customers and partners over the last five years to build Element into North America's largest independent equipment finance and fleet management company, added Mr. Hudson.

Completion of the Arrangement remains subject to certain conditions, including final court approval. The final hearing to approve the Arrangement is scheduled to be held on September 21, 2016. If the final court order is granted and all other conditions precedent to the Arrangement are satisfied or waived, Element expects that the Arrangement will be completed on October 3, 2016.

In connection with the approval of the Arrangement, Element shareholders also passed an ordinary resolution approving, on behalf of ECN Capital and ECN Capital's shareholders, the equity-based compensation plans for ECN Capital. The results of the ballot were 280,675,012 common shares (88.98%) voted at the meeting in favour of the resolution.

In addition, pursuant to the previously announced transaction whereby ECN Capital will acquire all of the issued and outstanding shares in the capital of INFOR Acquisition Corp. (IAC-A.TO)(IAC-WT.TO) ("IAC") following the completion of the Separation Transaction (the "IAC Acquisition"), Element shareholders passed an ordinary resolution authorizing ECN Capital to issue such number of common shares in the capital of ECN Capital as is necessary to effect the IAC Transaction on the terms set forth in the arrangement agreement among the parties thereto. The results of the ballot were 298,016,684 common shares (95.37%) voted at the meeting in favour of the resolution.

Subject to IAC receiving timely regulatory, court and IAC shareholder approval of the IAC Acquisition, and satisfaction of the other conditions precedent set forth in the arrangement agreement, the IAC Acquisition is expected to close by the end of October 2016. The Separation Transaction is separate from, and not conditional on, the IAC Acquisition.

The results of these matters considered at the Meeting are reported in the Report of Voting Results as filed on SEDAR (www.sedar.com) on September 20, 2016.

About Element Financial Corporation

With total assets of $24.0 billion, Element Financial Corporation is one of North America's leading fleet management and equipment finance companies. Shareholders have approved an arrangement to separate the Company to two publicly traded entities - Element Fleet Management Corp. (Element Fleet) and ECN Capital Corp. (ECN Capital). As the world's largest publicly-traded fleet management services company, Element Fleet will operate the Company's fleet management business. As a leading North American equipment finance company, ECN Capital will operate the Company's commercial & vendor finance, rail finance and aviation finance businesses and transition to an origination and asset management business model.

#### Press Release #############################

(Leasing News provides this ad as a trade for appraisals
and equipment valuations provided by Ed Castagna)

ID: 37485
Microchip Number: 985112007159779
Shelter Tag Number: 013461
Male
Color Brown/Brindle
Age: 1 Year 4 months
Neutered
My health has been checked.
My vaccinations are up to date.
My worming is up to date.
I have been microchipped.

"Hi I'm Timmy!
I'm a young active dog who is eager to learn. School may be out for summer, but I don't ever want to stop training. Did I mention I love treats? That's right, I'm food-motivated and I could be your next furry friend. I enjoy the great outdoors. I like hiking, camping, and mountain bike riding on my weekends. I love scuba diving, surfing, and snorkeling when I'm on vacation. If you're looking for a real go-getter come get me!"

The people that "love" you
Whip your butt raw,
Drop you head first
Into a locked-closet weekend.
You will grow up
To play mailbox baseball,
You will apply the geometry of your schooling,
See the flat plane,
The simple dimension of your swing,
A hand flies at the face of your dream,
Your home plate points toward hell,
The extended angles climb
Toward the misty heights of a rainbow.
The rainbow on the side of a mailbox
Explodes in chips of pastel paint
As you connect so perfectly,
A cannon blast against a siren
Against the black hide of the night.

(with permission of the author from his book:
“Touching All the Bases”
Poems from Baseball available from Amazon
or direct from the publisher at: www.mcfarlandpub.com

1596 - Spain named Juan de Oñate governor of the colony of New Mexico. In 1595, he was granted a request by King Philip II to colonize the northern frontier of the Viceroyalty of New Spain. His stated objective was to spread Roman Catholicism by establishing new missions in Nuevo México. His real quest was to discover treasure and sent out small parties to look for gold and silver. He began the expedition in 1598 with 700 people, fording the Rio Grande (Río del Norte) near present day El Paso in late April. On April 30, 1598, he claimed all of the territory across the river crossing to the north for the Spanish Empire. That summer, his party continued up the middle Rio Grande Valley to present day northern New Mexico, where he encamped among the Pueblo Indians. Gaspar Pérez de Villagrá, a captain of the expedition, chronicled Oñate’s conquest of New Mexico’s indigenous peoples in his epic “Historia de la Nueva México” in 1610. Oñate demanded that the indigenous population pledge loyalty to Spain and the Pope, an edict enforced by Spanish soldiers. As subjects of Spain, the indigenous population was required to pay taxes and tribute to the Spanish crown. In 1599, the Acoma refused to deliver the required "food tax" to the Spanish. An altercation ensued, and the Acoma killed 13 Spaniards, including Oñate's nephew. Oñate ordered that the village be destroyed. There were only about 200 Acoma survivors out of a population of nearly 2,000. Indian men of fighting age were sentenced to foot amputation, followed by 20 years of servitude. Others were sentenced to the amputation of their hands. Children were sent to Mexico to be raised by missionaries, but some scholars believe they were eventually sold on the slave market. Years later, Oñate was tried in Mexico City and convicted on a dozen charges, including using excessive force against the Acoma. He was banished from New Mexico for the rest of his life and was exiled from Mexico City for five years. He lived the rest of his life in Spain.http://www.pbs.org/pov/lastconquistador/background.phphttp://memory.loc.gov/ammem/today/sep21.html
1673 - James Needham returned to Virginia after exploring the land to the west, which would become Tennessee.
1677 - John and Nicolaas van der Heyden patented the fire extinguisher
1776 - Nathan Hale was arrested in NYC by the British for spying for American rebels. He was hanged the next day after uttering the words by which he is remembered to this day, “I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country”. He was 21.
1776 – New York City was burned down in the Great Fire five days after British took over.
1780 - General Benedict Arnold, American commander of West Point, met with British spy Major John André to hand over plans of the important Hudson River fort to the enemy. Unhappy with how General George Washington treated him and in need of money, Arnold planned to "sell" West Point for 20,000 pounds--a move that would enable the British to cut New England off from the rest of the rebellious colonies. Arnold's treason was exposed when André was captured by American militiamen who found the incriminating plans in his stocking. Arnold received a timely warning and was able to escape to a British ship, but André was hanged as a spy on October 2, 1780. Condemned for his Revolutionary War actions by both Americans and British, Arnold lived until 1801.
1782 – Philadelphia printer Robert Aitken petitioned Congress to authorize him to print the complete Bible in English. It was entitled “the Holy Bible, containing the Old and New Testaments—newly translated out of the original tongues;” and with the former translations diligently compared and revised. The frontispiece noted that it was “printed and sold by R. Aitken, at Pope’s Head, Three doors above the Coffee House in Market Street, Philadelphia, PA, 1782.” It was a duodecimo of 353 pages without pagination. Philadelphia, PA, in 1782
1784 - The first daily newspaper begins in Pennsylvania, “Pennsylvania Packet and Daily Advertiser.”
(Lower half of: http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/today/sep21.html )
1814 - Black troops cited for bravery in Battle of New Orleans.
On each page of history
America sees my face
On each page of history
We leave a shining trace
On each page of history, My race! My race! My race!
---Langston Hugheshttp://lsm.crt.state.la.us/cabildo/cab6.htm
1814 – Francis Scott Key’s “Defence of Ft. McHenry” was first published as a poem; later named the “Star-Spangled Banner.”
1858 - Birthday of Annie Sturges Daniel (1858-1944) in NYC. Pioneering U.S. physician who developed the "out-practice" service in New York City, the system of physicians going to the homes of the poor, usually the tenements of the lower east side. She particularly fought the household sweat shops where the poor - mostly women and children - were forced to use their limited living space to produce clothing. However, because she was one of the foremost authorities on tenement living, she did not try to eliminate home sweat shops because the income was vital to the families. Instead, she lobbied various city and state committees to regulate the conditions and force a raise in the wages for the work. One of her most effective methods was to publicize the working conditions under which the clothing was manufactured and to warn consumers of the threat of disease being carried in the clothing.
1884 - Birthday of Hugh I. “Shorty” Ray (1884-1956) at Highland Park, IL. Pro football Hall of Fame official was the NFL Supervisor of Officials from 1938-1952. He wrote the high school rule book that became the basis for all football rule books. He raised the quality of officiating games, conducting seminars and requiring officials to take written exams. Inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1966.
1894 - A heavy chicken house, sixteen by sixteen feet in area, was picked up by a tornado and wedged between two trees. The hens were found the next day sitting on their eggs in the chicken house, with no windows broken, as though nothing had happened.
1897 – “Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus" editorial was published in the New York Sun.
1903 – Preston Tucker (1903-56) was born in Capac, MI. He is most remembered for his 1948 Tucker Sedan (known as the "Tucker '48" and initially nicknamed the "Tucker Torpedo"), an automobile which introduced many features that have since become widely used in modern cars. Production of the Tucker '48 was shut down amidst scandal and controversial accusations of stock fraud on March 3, 1949. Many believe this was a behind-the-scenes machination orchestrated by the other automobile manufacturers to eliminate innovative competition.
1903 - Pitching for the third time in four games, Christy Mathewson kept the Giants in 2nd place by beating the Cubs, 8-3. It was his 30th win of the year.
1910 – In a minor league game at Atlanta, Mobile and Atlanta broke the "world's time record" for a 9-inning game, completing the match in 32 minutes. Mobile won, 2-1. Both teams run in after each inning, hitters usually swing at the first pitch, though there is one walk and four stolen bases in the game.
1912 - Birthday of Chuck Jones (1912-2002), born at Spokane, WA. Chuck Jones worked as a child extra in Hollywood in the 1920s. After attending art school, he landed a job washing animation cells for famed Disney animator Ub Iwerks. He learned the craft, and, by 1962, he headed his own unit at Warner Bros. Animation. He created the characters Road Runner and Wile E. Coyote, Marvin the Martian and Pepe le Pew. He worked on the development of Bugs Bunny, Elmer Fudd, Daffy Duck and Porky Pig, and also produced, directed and wrote the screenplay for the animated 1966 television classic “Dr. Seuss How the Grinch Stole Christmas.” He won several Academy awards for his work and his cartoon “What’s Opera, Doc” is in the National Film Registry.
1914 - Bassist Slam Stewart (1914-87) was born Leroy Eliot Stewart, Englewood, NJ
1918 - Bassist Tommy Potter (1918-88) born Philadelphia.
1919 - The Cubs beat the Braves, 3-0, in 58 minutes. It took the Brooklyn Robins 55 minutes to beat the Reds, 3-1 as Slim Sallee threw 65 pitches, topping Christy Mathewson’s 69-pitch complete game. One week later, the Giants ended the season by beating the Phillies, 6-1, in a record 51 minutes.
1921 - Birthday of drummer Chico Hamilton (1921-2013) in LA. http://music.barnesandnoble.com/search/artistbio.asp
?userId=&mscssid=&pCount=
& sRefer=&sourceid=&ctr=70348
1922 - President Warren G Harding signed a joint resolution of approval to establish a Jewish homeland in Palestine.
1931 - In the depths of the Depression, Americans had lost their faith in the nation's banking system. Despite President Hoover's various attempts to rekindle confidence, including temporary halts on debts and reparations, the nation remained wary. On September 21, 1931, that feeling of insecurity grew more pronounced with the announcement that Great Britain had decided to abandon the gold standard. Most people assumed that the United States would follow suit and pull out of the precious metal. Since gold was the standard bank reserve, the public also assumed that any money they had in the banks would be at risk. A mini-panic ensued as people rushed to withdraw their savings and stockpile any available gold. By the end of October, 1931, 827 banks had been forced to shut down. The public's suspicions, meanwhile, proved to be a bit premature, as the government did not give up the gold standard until 1933.
1931 – Larry Hagman (1931-2012) was born in Ft. Worth, TX. Hagman was the son of actress Mary Martin, who played “Peter Pan” on Broadway. After six seasons as Maj. Anthony Nelson in the hit series, “I Dream of Jeannie” (1965-70), he was cast as the heavy in “Dallas” (1978-91) as oil tycoon J.R. Ewing.
1934 – Singer/composer/musician/poet Leonard Cohen born Montreal, Canada.http://www.leonardcohen.com/www.leonardcohenfiles.com/http://members.aol.com/megan2c2b/http://www.webheights.net/dearheather/songs.html
1934 - The Deans shut out the Dodgers. After Dizzy 3-hit them in a 13-0 victory, allowing no hits until the 8th, brother Paul threw a no-hitter, 3-0. Diz said: "If'n Paul had told me he was gonna pitch a no-hitter, I'd of throwed one, too."
1938 - A great hurricane smashed into Long Island and bisected New England, causing a massive forest blow down and widespread flooding. Winds gusted to 186 mph at Blue Hill, MA, and a storm surge of nearly thirty feet caused extensive flooding along the coast of Rhode Island. The hurricane killed 600 persons and caused $500 million damage. The hurricane, which lasted twelve days, destroyed 275 million trees. Hardest hit were Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island and Long Island, NY. The "Long Island Express" produced gargantuan waves with its 150 mph winds, waves which smashed against the New England shore with such force that earthquake-recording machines on the Pacific coast clearly showed the shock of each wave.
1942 – The B-29 Superfortress bomber that would later carry the atomic bombs to Nagasaki and Hiroshima made its maiden flight from Boeing Field, Seattle.
1944 - TOWLE, JOHN R., Medal of Honor.
Rank and organization: Private, U.S. Army, Company C, 504th Parachute Infantry, 82d Airborne Division. Place and date: Near Oosterhout, Holland, 21 September 1944. Entered service at: Cleveland, Ohio. Birth: Cleveland, Ohio. G.O. No.: 18, 15 March 1945. Citation. For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty on 21 September 1944, near Oosterhout, Holland. The rifle company in which Pvt. Towle served as rocket launcher gunner was occupying a defensive position in the west sector of the recently established Nijmegen bridgehead when a strong enemy force of approximately 100 infantry supported by 2 tanks and a half-track formed for a counterattack. With full knowledge of the disastrous consequences resulting not only to his company but to the entire bridgehead by an enemy breakthrough, Pvt. Towle immediately and without orders left his foxhole and moved 200 yards in the face of Intense small-arms fire to a position on an exposed dike roadbed. From this precarious position Pvt. Towle fired his rocket launcher at and hit both tanks to his immediate front. Armored skirting on both tanks prevented penetration by the projectiles, but both vehicles withdrew slightly damaged. Still under intense fire and fully exposed to the enemy, Pvt. Towle then engaged a nearby house which 9 Germans had entered and were using as a strongpoint and with 1 round killed all 9. Hurriedly replenishing his supply of ammunition, Pvt. Towle, motivated only by his high conception of duty which called for the destruction of the enemy at any cost, then rushed approximately 125 yards through grazing enemy fire to an exposed position from which he could engage the enemy half-track with his rocket launcher. While in a kneeling position preparatory to firing on the enemy vehicle, Pvt. Towle was mortally wounded by a mortar shell. By his heroic tenacity, at the price of his life, Pvt. Towle saved the lives of many of his comrades and was directly instrumental in breaking up the enemy counterattack.
1945 – Film and TV producer Jerry Bruckheimer was born in Detroit. His best known television series are “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation,” “CSI,” “CSI: Miami,” “CSI: NY,” “Without a Trace,” “Cold Case,” and the U.S. version of “The Amazing Race.” At one point, three of his TV series ranked among the top 10 in the U.S. ratings—a unique feat in television. Some of his best-known films include “Beverly Hills Cop,” “Flashdance,” “Top Gun,” “The Rock,” “Con Air,” “Armageddon,” Pearl Harbor,” “Pirates of the Caribbean,” and the “National Treasure” franchise.
1947 – Top Hits
“Peg o’ My Heart” – The Harmonicats
“That’s My Desire” – The Sammy Kaye Orchestra (vocal: Don Cornell)
“I Wonder Who’s Kissing Her Now” – Perry Como
“Smoke! Smoke! Smoke! (That Cigarette)” – Tex Williams
1947 – Birthday of author Stephen King, born Portland, ME.
1948 – “Texaco Star Theater” premiered. I remember around six years old watching this, and laughing at Milton Berle in women’s clothing, the group of us sitting around the television on the block, marveling at this invention.
1949 – Wesley Anthony Brown (1927-2012) of Washington, DC, became the first African-American Naval Academy Graduate when he received his commission as ensign.
1950 – Comedian/Actor Bill Murray born Evanston, IL.
1955 – Top Hits
“The Yellow Rose of Texas” – Mitch Miller
“Maybellene” – Chuck Berry
“Love is a Many-Splendored Thing” – The Four Aces
“I Don’t Care” – Webb Pierce
1955 – The Platters’ first million seller, “Only You,” enters the pop charts at #24. The song hits Number One on the R&B chart. It becomes the first record to sell more than a million copies in France.
1955 – Boxing fans all over the world held their collective breaths as Archie Moore, the light heavyweight champion, knocked the heavyweight champion, Rocky Marciano, to the floor on this night. But the champ got up ... just as he had done in every fight before this ... and went on to defeat Moore. Rocky Marciano was the only world champion at any weight to have won every fight of his professional career (1947 to 1956). 43 of his 49 fights were won either by KO’s or because the fight had to be stopped.
1956 - 1B Moose Skowron had 5 hits, but the Yankees stranded a record 20 base runners in losing to the Red Sox at Fenway, 13-9. Mickey Mantle, on his way to the Triple Crown, sent a 480-foot home run into the center field bleachers that landed a foot from the top. His 3 hits raised his average to .352, 4 points behind Ted Williams.
1957 – “Perry Mason” premiered on television. Raymond Burr will forever be associated with the character of Perry Mason, a highly skilled criminal lawyer who won the great majority of his cases. Episodes followed a similar format: the action took place in the first half, with the killer’s identity unknown, and the courtroom drama took place in the latter half. My father, Lawrence Menkin, was the story editor for several years, and also wrote several of the episodes. Mason was particularly adept at eliciting confessions from the guilty parties. Regulars and semi-regulars included Barbara Hale as Mason’s secretary Della Street, William Hopper as Mason’s PI, Paul Drake, William Talman as prosecutor Hamilton Burger, and Ray Collins as police Lt. Tragg (who when he got old, moved slowly, so Talman and Burr liked to pinch his butt, even on camera, to get him moving, and the crew sometimes would laugh too much and they would have to shoot the scene over, I remember my father telling me). Following the series’ end, with the last telecast on Jan 27, 1974, a number of successful “Perry Mason” TV movies aired and the show remains popular in reruns.
1961 – The U.S. Army’s 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), 1st Special Forces, is activated at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. The Special Forces were formed to organize and train guerrilla bands behind enemy lines. President John F. Kennedy, a strong believer in the potential of the Special Forces in counterinsurgency operations, visited the Special Warfare Center at Fort Bragg to review the program and authorized the Special Forces to wear the headgear that became their symbol, the Green Beret.
1961 – No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit: “Take Good Care of My Baby,’’ Bobby Vee. The song was written by Gerry Goffin and Carole King.
1962 – A song called “Silver Threads and Golden Needles” by The Springfields became the first British record to crack the US Top 20. The vocal group was made up of Tim Field, Tom Springfield and his sister Dusty, who would go on to have her own solo hits like “I Only Want To Be With You.”
1963 – Top Hits
“Blue Velvet” – Bobby Vinton
“Heat Wave” – Martha & The Vandellas
“Sally, Go ’Round the Roses” – The Jaynetts
“Abilene” – George Hamilton IV
1963 – “Sugar Shack” by Jimmy Gilmer & the Fireballs enters the Hot 100. It says there for 15 weeks and climbs to Number One for five weeks starting on October 12. It receives a gold record on November 29.
1963 – Yogi Berra hit the 358th HR of his career, his last.
1965 – The Jefferson Airplane opens for Lightnin’ Hopkins at the Matrix on Fillmore St. in San Francisco. Norm Mayell backed Hopkins on drums.
He patted him on the back no sooner Mr. Charlie had stooped over
He said, mi’mi mi’mi Mr. Charlie
Mr. Charlie straightened up and looked at him & say
Boy you tryin' to tell me Charlie
He say, Now if you can’t talk it then sing it
& he say
oooooooohhhh mister Charlie
your rollin mill is burnin down
— Lightnin Hopkins, Once in the Country
1966 - *LAUFFER, BILLY LANE, Medal of Honor
Rank and organization: Private First Class, U.S. Army, Company C, 2d Battalion, 5th Cavalry, 1st Air Cavalry Division. Place and date: Near Bon Son in Binh Dinh province, Republic of Vietnam, 21 September 1966. Entered service at: phoenix, Ariz. Born: 20 October 1945, Murray, Ky. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Pfc. Lauffer’s squad, a part of Company C, was suddenly struck at close range by intense machine gun crossfire from 2 concealed bunkers astride the squad’s route. Pfc. Lauffer, the second man in the column, saw the lead man fall and noted that the remainder of the squad was unable to move. Two comrades, previously wounded and being carried on litters, were Lying helpless in the beaten zone of the enemy fire. Reacting instinctively, Pfc. Lauffer quickly engaged both bunkers with fire from his rifle, but when the other squad members attempted to maneuver under his covering fire, the enemy fusillade increased in volume and thwarted every attempt to move. Seeing this and his wounded comrades helpless in the open, Pfc. Lauffer rose to his feet and charged the enemy machine gun positions, firing his weapon and drawing the enemy’s attention. Keeping the enemy confused and off balance, his 1-man assault provided the crucial moments for the wounded point man to crawl to a covered position, the squad to move the exposed litter patients to safety, and his comrades to gain more advantageous positions. Pfc. Lauffer was fatally wounded during his selfless act of courage and devotion to his fellow soldiers. His gallantry at the cost of his life served as an inspiration to his comrades and saved the lives of an untold number of his companions. His actions are in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the U.S. Army.
1968 – It was rare that a Country tune could top the Billboard Pop chart, but Jeannie C. Riley’s “Harper Valley P.T.A.” did just that. The record sold over 1,750,000 copies in the first two weeks after its release. Although she never cracked the top 50 on the Pop chart again, Riley went on to have several big Country hits.
1968 – Jimi Hendrix’s “All Along the Watchtower” is released in the US where will become his only Top 40 hit single, topping out at number 20.
1968 – Rapper Trugoy the Dove of De La Soul is born David Jude Jolicoeur in Brooklyn.
1970 – The first “Monday Night Football” premiered. Following the complete merger of the American Football League and the National Football League, ABC joined CBS and NBC in televising weekly games. The show originally began as an experiment but soon became an institution. Announcers Howard Cosell, Keith Jackson and Don Meredith called the first game, a 31-21 victory by the Cleveland Browns over the New York Jets. http://espn.go.com/abcsports/mnf/s/alltimehistory.html
1971 - Top Hits
“Go Away Little Girl” - Donny Osmond
“Spanish Harlem” - Aretha Franklin
“Ain’t No Sunshine” - Bill Withers
“The Year That Clayton Delaney Died” - Tom T. Hall
1972 - No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit: “Baby Don't Get Hooked on Me,'' Mac Davis.
1974 - Canada's Bachman-Turner Overdrive release "You Ain't Seen Nothin' Yet," which will become their third US Top 30 entry and their only number one.
1974 - The Rolling Stones' "It's Only Rock & Roll (But I Like It)" peaks at #16 on the chart.
1974 - At 300 pounds, he didn't look like a Rock star, but Barry White scored his first US number one and second of five top ten singles with "Can't Get Enough Of Your Love, Babe." It made #8 in the UK
1976 - The Bee Gees' 20th album, "Children of the World," goes gold. It contains two of their latest hits "You Should Be Dancing" (Number One two weeks ago) and "Love So Right" (which will make it to #3 in two months.)
1979 - Top Hits
“My Sharona” - The Knack
“After the Love Has Gone” - Earth, Wind & Fire
“The Devil Went Down to Georgia” - The Charlie Daniels Band
“You’re My Jamaica” - Charley Pride
1981 - Sandra Day O’Connor was confirmed by the United States Senate in a 99-0 vote, and she became the first female Justice of the United States Supreme Court.
1982 - National Football League (NFL) players began a 57-day strike. It was their first regular-season walkout.
1983 - Billy Joel's "Tell Her About It" hits #1 on the singles chart.
1985 - Michael Spinks won the heavyweight championship by taking a unanimous 15-round decision over Larry Holmes in Las Vegas. Spinks held the title until June 27, 1988 when he was knocked out by Mike Tyson in the first round.
1986 - The New York Jets and Miami Dolphins combined for a record 884 passing yards and scored 96 between them, including 13 touchdowns and a pair of field goals. Quarterback Ken O’Brien completed four touchdown passes to wide receiver Wesley Walker, including the game-winner in overtime. Dan Marino of the Dolphins threw for 6 TDs. The final score: New York 51, Miami 45.
1987 - Tropical Storm Emily, which formed in the Caribbean the previous afternoon, caused considerable damage to the banana industry of Saint Vincent in the Windward Islands. Unseasonably hot weather continued in Florida and the western U.S. Redding, CA and Red Bluff, CA, with record highs of 108 degrees, tied for honors as the hot spot in the nation.
1987 - Top Hits
“I Just Can’t Stop Loving You” - Michael Jackson with Siedah Garrett
“Didn’t We Almost Have It All” - Whitney Houston
“Here I Go Again” - Whitesnake
“This Crazy Love” - The Oak Ridge Boys
1989 - Hurricane Hugo slammed into the South Carolina coast about 11 PM, making landfall near Sullivans Island. Hurricane Hugo was directly responsible for thirteen deaths, and indirectly responsible for twenty-two others. A total of 420 persons were injured in the hurricane, and damage was estimated at $8 billion, including $2 billion to crops. Sustained winds reached 85 mph at Folly Beach, SC, with wind gusts as high was 138 mph. Wind gusts reached 98 mph at Charleston, and 109 mph at Shaw AFB. The biggest storm surge occurred in the McClellanville and Bulls Bay area of Charleston County, with a storm surge of 20.2 feet reported at Seewee Bay. Shrimp boats were found one half mile inland at McClellanville.
1989 - General Colin Powell is confirmed by the U.S. Senate as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
1991 - Stevie Nicks' greatest hits LP, "Timespace" enters the chart and Rush's "Roll the Bones" enters the LP chart.
1993 - “NYPD Blue” Premiers on TV. This gritty New York City police drama has had a large and changing cast. The star of today’s “CSI Miami”, David Caruso, was the first to leave to begin a movie career that did not happen. The central characters were partners Detective Bobby Simone (who later died), played by Jimmy Smits, and Detective Any Sipowicz, played by Dennis Franz. Other cast members have included Kim Delaney as Detective Diane Russell, James McDaniel as Lieutenant Arthur Francy, Gordon Clapp as Detective Gregory Medavoy, Rick Schroder as Detective Danny Sorenson, Nicholas Turturro as Detective James Martinez, Mark Paul Gosselaar as Detective John Clark and Esai Morales as Lieutenant Tony Rodriquez. http://www.tvtome.com/NYPDBlue/http://rotteneggs.com/r/show/se/2047332.htmlhttp://www.imdb.com/title/tt0106079/
1996 - The audience at the Grand Ole Opry witness a historic moment when 23-year-old Hank Williams III, son of Hank Williams Jr. and grandson of country music legend Hank Williams makes his Opry debut. Hank III wears a black western shirt trimmed with green fringe that belonged to his grandfather. His set includes "Moanin' the Blues," a 1950 chart-topper for Hank Sr., and "Lovesick Blues," the same song his granddad performed for his Opry debut in June 1949.
1996 - John F. Kennedy Jr. married Carolyn Bessette in a secret ceremony on Cumberland Island, GA. They both perished on July 16, 1999 with her sister in a small plane piloted by Kennedy off the Atlantic Coast near Martha’s Vineyard.
2001 - The Mets donate their day's pay, which totals approximately $500,000, from tonight's game with the Braves at Shea Stadium to a rescue fund for the families of the firefighters and policemen killed in the World Trade Center terrorist attacks. The contest is the first professional baseball game played in New York since the tragedy. Uplifting ceremonies before and during the game, which include singers Diana Ross, Marc Anthony, Lisa Minnelli and bagpipers, pay tribute to victims of the tragedy. Mike Piazza's eighth inning home run gives the Mets a 3-2 dramatic victory over the Braves.
2001 – “America: A Tribute to Heroes,” a commercial-free, live TV program was broadcast on all of the major US TV networks to raise money following the September 11th terrorist attacks. The show featured performances by Bruce Springsteen “My City in Ruins,” Tom Petty “I Won't Back Down,” Paul Simon “Bridge Over Troubled Water,” Billy Joel “New York State of Mind,” U2 “Walk On,” Celine Dion “God Bless America,” and Willie Nelson “America The Beautiful.” Accepting pledges over the telephone were Robin Williams, Meg Ryan, Danny DeVito, Sally Field, Jack Nicholson, Goldie Hawn, Cuba Gooding Jr., Kurt Russell, Adam Sandler, Jim Carrey, Whoopi Goldberg and many more. The broadcast and soundtrack album helped raise over $128 million for the victims and their families.
2005 – Hurricane Rita became the third most intense hurricane (dropped to 4th on October 19, 2005).
2008 – The last regular season game at the original Yankee Stadium. “The Ole Ballpark” opened in 1923 and was renovated in 1976. It was home to 26 World Series Championships. The Yanks defeated Baltimore, 7-3. Andy Pettitte earned his 14th win of the season, while Mariano Rivera closed out the game with a perfect 9th inning. They moved to the new Stadium across the street and promptly won #27 in 2009.
2011 - Google's new social network service, Google+, is released to the general public.
2014 - NASA Mars probe MAVEN is on track to enter the planet's orbit after a 10-month journey; the probe will collect data for a year on the upper Martian atmosphere to potentially answer questions about climate change on the planet.

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SuDoku

The object is to insert the numbers in the boxes to satisfy only one condition: each row, column and 3x3 box must contain the digits 1 through 9 exactly once. What could be simpler?